Everybody born comes from the Creator trailing wisps of glory.

Dr. [Martin Luther] King was a human being. He had a sense of humor which was wonderful.

I don't think there's such a thing as autobiographical fiction. If I say it happened, it happened, even if only in my mind.

There's racism and sexism and ageism and all sorts of idiocies. But bad news is not news. We've had bad news as a species for a long time. We've had slavery and human sacrifice and the holocaust and brutalities of such measure.

I believe what I have to say is important, and I believe the people coming to hear me are important, and so the occasion of itself alone has an importance, which forces me to stare down my nerves.

When I try to describe myself to God I say, 'Lord, remember me? Black? Female? Six-foot tall? The writer?' And I almost always get God's attention.

When you wish someone joy, you wish them peace, love, prosperity, happiness... all the good things.